Assessment of public space potential for climate change adaptation in three Colombian cities: nature-based solutions and urban design guidelines

Abstract

Cities need to interact more harmoniously with their environment, especially with regard to the urban water cycle. Currently, public space design standards in Colombia do not include rainwater management for reuse in buildings and irrigation of green spaces, wasting treated water on activities that do not require it. The environmental design of public spaces can also help reduce urban temperatures, especially in dense urban areas. Adapting cities and public spaces to climate change is crucial, especially in geographic contexts such as Colombia, where the El Niño and La Niña climate oscillations will further increase precipitations or droughts in regions of Colombia, making urban and rural populations more vulnerable to flooding, landslides and sea level rise. This study aims to assess the public space potential for the adoption of nature-based solutions (NBSs) in three Colombian cities with different hydrological conditions, climates and urban morphologies: Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Cartagena. The potential for NBSs in urban context was assessed with land suitability analysis and MCDA tools. The results showed that adoption of NBS in public spaces and urban design guidelines can be a valuable strategy to prepare our cities for climate change and provide a better support for urban ecosystem services in Colombia. HIGHLIGHTS Assessment of public space potential for climate change adaptation.; Methodology for the Water Balance Model.; GIS MCDA for NBS location in cities.; Recommendations for public space design retrofitting with NBS.;

Keywords

• geospatial analysis
• green infrastructure
• public space retrofitting
• public spaces
• water-sensitive cities